Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
Parallel translations
- WEB having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, as if it were a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
- BSB shining with the glory of God. Its radiance was like a most precious jewel, like a jasper, as clear as crystal.
- NKJV having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.
- NASB having the glory of God. Her brilliance was like a very valuable stone, like a stone of crystal-clear jasper.
- NLT It shone with the glory of God and sparkled like a precious stone—like jasper as clear as crystal.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The city shines with the very glory of God, radiant like a clear, precious jasper. God's own presence is its light and beauty.
Overview
The city's brilliance comes not from itself but from the indwelling glory of God (cf. v. 23). The imagery of precious, crystal-clear stone conveys purity, value, and the reflection of divine splendor. This recalls the glory that once filled the tabernacle and temple, now fully and permanently displayed among God's people.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 17
- Rev 4:6And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.
- Rev 22:5And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
- Rev 22:1And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
- Rev 21:18–19And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.
- Isa 60:19–20The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.
- Ezek 1:26And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it.
- Rev 4:3And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.
- Isa 60:1–2Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.
- Isa 4:5And the LORD will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence.
- Rev 21:22–23And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
- Ezek 28:13–14Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.
- Ezek 48:35It was round about eighteen thousand measures: and the name of the city from that day shall be, The LORD is there.
- Job 28:17The gold and the crystal cannot equal it: and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold.
- Ezek 43:2And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice was like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with his glory.
- Rev 15:8And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.
- Ezek 1:22And the likeness of the firmament upon the heads of the living creature was as the colour of the terrible crystal, stretched forth over their heads above.
- Ezek 28:16By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.
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Christ at the center
Revelation ends the story with the slain-yet-standing Lamb who is worthy, the Lion of Judah, the Alpha and Omega, the returning King who makes all things new and dwells with his people forever.
How Revelation 21:11 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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